Scanning of maps or turning over a guide-book will
give neither the thrill of the actual visit nor the fraction of the Joy
and knowledge of the journey. Similarly, studying of Upanishaths
and the Geetha are only maps and guide-books. One has to put into practise
of what is read in the Scriptures. Aathma vichara is necessary for a
sadhaka to understand that the basic substance is one i.e., Brahman.

A person once told Dr. Johnson, the famous English
thinker, that he could seldom get time to recite the Name of God, what
with the hundreds of things he had to do from morning till nightfall and
even far into the night. Dr. Johnson replied with another question. He
asked how millions of people found space to live upon the face of the
earth, which is two-thirds water and the rest is too full of mountains,
deserts, forests, icy regions, river beds, marshes and similar impossible
areas. The questioner said that man somehow struggled to find living
space. So too, said Dr. Johnson, man must somehow find a few minutes a day
for prayer to the Lord. The Pure rain water falls equally everywhere
but its taste gets changed according to the soil through which it flows.
Similarly, The Lord is sweet to some and bitter to others.

There are four types of persons :

Dead – These people deny the Lord and declare
that they alone exist, independent, free, self regulating and
self-directing;

Sick – These people call upon the Lord when
some calamity befalls them or when they feel temporarily deserted by the
usual sources of succor;

Dull – These people know that God is eternal
companion and watchman, but who remember it only off and on when the idea
is potent and powerful;

Healthy – These people have steady faith in
the Lord and in his comforting creative presence always;

So, One has to proceed
from 'death' to 'life' and from 'illness' to 'health' by the experience of
the sufferings in the World.

Saadhana is most required to control the mind and the
desires after which it runs. Saadhana means inner cleanliness as well as
external cleanliness. One has to start his sadhana with japa sahitha
dhyaana. First, when you sit for meditation, recite a few shlokas on the
glow of God, so that the thoughts that are scattered could be collected.
Then gradually, while doing japam, draw before the mind's eye the form
which that Name represents. When your mind wanders away from the recital
of the Name, take it on to the picture of the Form. When it wanders away
from the picture, lead it on to the Name. Over a period of time, The
imaginary picture you have drawn will get transmuted into the Bhaava
chithram (emotional picture) which is dear to the heart and fixed in the
memory; gradually it will become the Saakshaathkaara chitram --- The
Lord assumes that Form in order to fulfil your desire.

The Jnaani says, "Sarvam Brahma mayam:" In God is
All"; A yogi says “all is energy”. But, a bhaktha says “all is the play of
Bhagavaan (the Lord)”. Bhakthi (devotion) is the easiest way to win his
Grace and also to realise that he is everything!

There are three
types of devotion:

The vihanga method – In this method, the
devotee is too impatient and behaves like a bird swooping down upon the
ripe fruit on the tree. So, the devotee loses the fruit from his hold
because of his impatience;

The markata method
– In this method, the bhaktha behaves like a monkey where it pulls one
fruit and another towards but not able to decide which fruit it wants. So,
he too out of sheet unsteadiness hesitates and changes his aim much too
often and thus loses all chances of success;

The pipeelika method – In this method,
the bhaktha behaves like an ant. He moves slowly but steadily proceeds
towards the sweetness. He also moves direct with undivided attention
towards the Lord and wins His Grace!

The Lord is a Mountain of
Prema (Love). So, any number of ants carrying away particles of sweetness
cannot exhaust his Plenty. He is an Ocean of Mercy without a limiting
shore. The Lord will draw you into his bosom once shine in your real
nature by cleansing yourself through trials and tribulations.

One who leaves everything to the Lord’s Will i.e.,
Sharanaagathi will follow the highest form of Bhakthi. Finally, He attains
: